Compensating hose reel

ABSTRACT

AN ENDLESS CHAIN DEVICE SUCH AS A RETRACTOR IN WHICH CONDUITS CONNECTED TO THE ENDLESS CHAIN ARE WOUND ON A PAIR OF DRUMS, AND RESILIENT MEANS INTERCONNECTED THE DIFFERENT SPEEDS OF ROTATION OF THE DRUMS   AS THE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE CONDUIT AND ENDLESS CHAIN MOVE TOWARD AND AWAY FROM THE DRUM AT DIDFFERENT SPEEDS.

Sept. 20, 1971 D, H, PRYQR 3,606,126

l coMPENsATrNG HosE REEL l Filed March 9. 1970 5 sheets-sheet 1 *il -E-Q-Q-EL-E/ .5a/e Pryor :NVE/wok.

Sept. 20, 19.71 D. H. PRYoR couPENsATING Hos1 REEL Filed March 9. 1970 ,s "sheets-sheet z BY #i 'Zw.

Sept; 20, 1971 Q H, PRYQR COMPENSATING HOSE REEL 5 Sheets-Sheet Filed March 9, 1970 a/e Pryor t' lNVli/v'loR. BY j, fi?

Arrwiwsw Sept. 20, 1971 n. H. PRYoR 3,606,126

GOMPENSATING HOSE REEL l Filed March 9, 1970 5 Sheecs-Sheet/L Sept. 20, 1971 D, H, PRYQR 3,606,126

COMPBNSATING HOSE REEL Filed March 9. 1970 5 Sheets-Sheet ".3

@ff/f a/e Pryor A7701? EVJ United States Patent i 3,606,126 COMPENSATING HOSE REEL Dale H. Pryor, Houston, Tex., assigner to Youngstown Sheet and Tube Company, Youngstown, Ohio Filed Mar. 9, 1970, Ser. No. 17,750 Int. Cl. B65h 17/34 U.S. Cl. 226-173 8 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE An endless chain device such as a retractor in which conduits connected to the endless chain are wound on -a pair of drums, and resilient means interconnect the drums to permit different speeds of rotation of the drums as the connections between the conduit and endless chain move toward and away from the drum at diiferent speeds.

The patents to Harrison, 2,702,149, and to Cullen, 2,892,535 and 3,330,459, each approach the problem of attaching conduits to an endless chain device in different manners. This invention is an improvement over the disclosures of said patents in that this invention provides a simple, rugged system in which the conduits themselves provide the means for rotating the drums and keeping the conduits in tension, and in particular in that more than two conduits may be readily utilized so that iluid connections may be made with the endless chain device at more than two points without unduly complicating the structure.

It is an object of this invention to provide a simple, rugged device for connecting conduits to an endless chain which moves in a non-circular path.

Another object of this invention is to provide for connection of conduits to an endless chain which moves in a non-circular path in which the conduits are the only members connected to the endless chain, and means associated with the conduit drums permit the drums to move at dilerent speeds as the points of connection between the conduits and endless chain move at different speeds toward and away from the drums.

Another object of this invention is to provide a system for connecting conduits to an endless chain in which more than two conduits may be connected to the endless chain at fixed points to reduce the length of the flow path of lluids owing to and from the endless chain.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the specication, the drawings, and the claims.

In the drawings wherein like numerals indicate like parts and wherein an illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown;

FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation of a retractor unit constructed in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of the endless chain of grippers showing four hoses attached thereto and extending to the centrally located reel system;

FIG. 3 is aview in front elevation of the retractor of PIG. 1;

FIGS. 4 through 11 are schematic views illustrating the relationship of the connection of the several conduits to the endless chain as the chain progresses around its path of travel;

FIGS. l2 and 13 are schematic views illustrating the connection of the endless chain manifolds to the conduits;

FIG. 14 is a view partly in elevation and partly in cross-section illustrating the conduit drums and their resilient connection in accordance with this invention;

FIG. is a view along the lines 15-15 of FIG. 14.

In FIGS. l and 2, the retractor is shown. The retractor includes a suitable base 10 which may be mounted on a 3,606,126 Patented Sept. 20, 1971 suitable substructure above the well to be drilled. Supported on the base 10 is a support for the endless chain indicated generally at 11. The support illustrated is in the form of a four-legged mast having front legs 12 and 13 and a pair of rear legs, one of which is shown at 14 in FIG. 1. The support carries four sprockets 15 and 1'6 at the lower portion of the support and 17 and 18 at the upper portion of the support. The endless chain 11 is trained over these sprockets. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the endless chain moves in a non-circular path between the several sprockets so that it travels in a straight line for a substantial distance to raise or lower the drill string indicated generally at 19 in FIG. 2.

Inasmuch as the endless chain is supported on sprockets which are in turn journaled in the mast structure, the source for hydraulic fluid for operating the grippers is best positioned internally of the chain as indicated generally at 21 in FIG. 2. A problem results from this positioning however, as the points of connection of the hoses 22, 23, 24, and 25 to the endless chain move at different speeds toward and away from this area 21 as they travel with the endless chain. In FIG. 2, the connections for hoses 22 and 24 are traveling at maximum speed, whereas the connections to the endless chain for hoses 23 and 25 are at substantially zero speed toward and away from the center connection 21.

In order to greatly simplify the structure for compensating for the difference in sped of the hoses and to permit the use of any desired number of connections with the manifold, this invention utilizes a pair of hose reels or drums and utilizes the hoses to provide the motive power for reeling in the hoses. In other words, as one hose is pulled oil of a reel, such reel provides the motive power for rotating the other reel to take in the other hose. The two reels are connected by a resilient means which permits them to rotate at different speeds or oscillate relative to each other to compensate for differences in speed of travel of the points of connection of the hose with the endless chain.

In IFIGS. 4 through 11, the movement of the four hoses about the complete path of the endless chain is illustrated. Hoses 22 and 24 are wound about one reel, and hoses 23 and 25 are wound about the other reel. Thus, as hoses 22 and 24 move from their FIG. 4 to FIG. 5 position, the movement of the endless chain unreels these hoses, and, as will be explained in more detail hereinafter, the reel on which these hoses are wound drives the reel on which hoses 23 and 25 are wound to take in these hoses. This action continues through the several positions illustrated in these iigures with one set of hoses being extended by the chain and in turn taking in the other set of hoses.

In carrying out this invention, a pair of hose drums are rotatably mounted within the non-circular path of the endless chain. Preferably, these drums are mounted for rotation about a common axis. In the illustrative embodiment, drums 26 and 27 are mounted equidistant from the upper and lower sprockets and midway between the straight line paths of the chain as shown in FIG. 2. The shafts 28 and 29 on which the drums 26 and 27 are supported are suitably journaled for rotation on the support by means which are not shown. At least one hose or conduit is carried on each drum. For instance, conduits 22 and 24 may be carried on drum 26, and conduits 23 and 2S may be carried on drum 27. It will be noted from FIG. 14 that fluid for the conduits flows to and from the drums through the pasasgeways within the supporting shafts 28 and 29. Drum 26 is keyed to shaft 28 for rotation therewith by key 31. In like manner, drum 27 is keyed for rotation with shaft 29 by key 32.

At times the two drums will need to rotate at different speeds or oscillate relative to each other as the connections between the hose and the endless chain pass over the sprockets. To permit this action the two drums 26 and 27 are mounted for rotation relative to each other by a reduced diameter end portion 28a of shaft 28 being journaled for rotation in bearing 33 carried in drum 27.

In order to interconnect the two drums so that the unreeling drum will drive the other drum to reel in the conduits, a suitable resilient means is provided. Preferably, the resilient means is provided by a spiral spring 34. As best shown in FIG. 15, one end 34a of the spiral spring is anchored in a slot in shaft 28 and the other end 34b of the spiral spring is hooked about a pin 35 carried by drum 27. This spring is preferably wound to exert at least a slight resilient force at all times and in all positions of the endless chain so that there is a constant force tending to wind up the several conduits or hoses and keep them under slight tension so that they will not sag and become entangled in any of the mechanism.

The spiral spring 34 is contained with an interlocking or overhangilng pair of flanges; the exterior ilange 36 being carried by drum 26 and the interior flange 37 being carried by drum 27.

FIG. 13 illustrates schematically the several gripper assemblies 38 of the endles chain indicated generally at 11. A manifold line 39 extends between all of the several gripper assemblies 38 and is connected to hoses 22 and 24. A similar manifold line 41 is also connected to each of the several gripper assemblies and is connected to the hoses 23 and 25. As indicated schematically in FIGS. 4 through 11, these connection points are such that as rotation of the chain unreels one pair of hoses, the other reel winds in the other pair of hoses under the force exerted by spring 34.

In FIG. 12, there is shown the actual connection of the hoses with the several gripper assemblies. The mani- -fold lines 39 and 41 crisscross as illustrated in this iigure in connecting to each of the gripper assemblies so that none of the manifold lines need be of excessive length as the gripper assemblies travel through the sprocket area.

Also shown in FIG. l2 is an additional manifold line 42. This manifold line is connected through one or more suitable valves to one of the other manifold lines 41 or 39, whichever carries the lower pressure, to shift a stop plate associated with the grippers to determine the distance which the grippers will travel between open and close position in accordance with the teaching of my copending application, Ser. No. 859,489, tiled Sept. 19, 1969 for GrippeL From the above it will be seen that a iluid supply system for 'an endless chain has been provided in which the hoses or conduits which are connected to the endless chains supply the motive power for rotating the reel supporting the hoses. Two or more hoses may be utilized. While the drums supporting the hoses are shown to be rotatable about the same axes, it is apparent that this relationship is not essential although it is preferred. Any resilient connection may be provided between hose drums in which one drum drives the other through the resilient connection. While two drums are illustrated, it is apparent that additional drums could be utilized if desired.

The foregoing disclosure and description of the inven'tion and illustrative and explanatory thereof and various changes in the size, shape and materials, as well as in the details of the illustrated construction, may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

:What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus comprising,

a support,

an endless chain mounted on the support for movement in a non-circular path,

a pair of drums rotatably mounted within said noncircular path,

a conduit carried on each of said drums,

each said conduit connected to said endless chain at points which are simultaneously approximately closest to and furthest away from their respective drums with one conduit wound on one drum while the other conduit is fully extended,

and resilient means interconnecting said drums and causing one conduit to be wound on a drum as the other conduit is extended,

said resilient means permitting dilferent speeds of rotation of said drums as the portions of the endless chain to which the conduits are attached move at different speeds toward and away from said drums.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the conduits are connected to said endles chain at points spaced apart approximately one-fourth of the length of the chain.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the drums are mounted on a common axis and the resilient means is a spiral spring.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein there are a pair of conduits on each drum with conduits of a pair connected to the endles chain at points spaced apart approximately one-half the length of the chain.

5. A retractor comprising,

a support having sprockets at spaced points,

an endless chain trained over the sprockets for movement in a non-circular path,

a plurality of grippers carried by the chain,

a fluid system for controlling the grippers including two manifold lines,

a pair of drums rotatably mounted within said noncircular path,

a conduit carried on each of said drums,

one of said conduits connected to each of said manifolds at points which are simultaneously approximately closest to and furthest away from their respective drums with one conduit wound on one drum while the other conduit is fully extended,

and resilient means interconnecting said drums and causing one conduit to be wound on a drum as the other conduit is extended,

said resilient means permitting diiferent speeds of rotation of said drum as the portions of the manifold to which the conduits are attached move at diierent speeds toward and away from said drums.

6. The retractor of claim 5 wherein the conduits are connected to said manifolds at points spaced apart approximately one-fourth of the length of the chain.

7. The retractor of claim 5 wherein the drums are mounted on a common axis and the resilient means is a spiral spring.

8. The retractor of claim 5 wherein there are a pair of conduits on each drum with conduits of a pair connected to the same manifolds at points spaced apart approximately one-half the length of the manifold.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,892,535 6/1959 Cullen et al. 226-173 3,330,459 7/1967 Cullen et al. 226-173 3,330,556 7/1967 Sarka 27l-74X ALLEN N. KNOWLES, Primary Examiner 

